wmsde.org - Special Programs & Features

At Wilmington Montessori School, discipline is viewed as an aid to learning responsible social behaviors and is not considered a punishment. Children are always treated with respect. Corporal punishment and humiliation are not allowed under any circumstances.

Our goal of discipline is to:

• Establish a calm, orderly, and safe environment for learning.• Foster an appreciation for the role of rules in school.• Help children develop self-control and self-discipline.• Teach children to be responsible, contributing members of our school community.• Promote respectful, kind and healthy teacher-student and student-student interactions.

Wilmington Montessori School uses a democratic approach to classroom behavior and activities with the aim of helping children develop self-control, begin to understand what socially responsible behavior is and come to value such behavior. Our approach does not rely on punishment or rewards to “get students to behave.”

We offer clear expectations for behavior, actively model and role-play behaviors that teach children how to live up to those expectations, and provide opportunities for the children to practice the rules. When students break the rules, teachers rely upon natural and logical consequences to help students learn from their mistakes.

Teachers also incorporate other strategies for resolving problems such as classroom meetings, problem-solving meetings involving the children involved in a conflict, and a positive time out space within the classroom for a child to regain composure. Certain situations necessitate involvement of education staff beyond the classroom teachers. In these circumstances, parents will be notified and a path forward will be determined.

Grievance Procedure:

If you have a concern regarding your child, please speak to your child’s teacher. If, after speaking to the teacher, you would like to continue the conversation, please contact the Homeschool Enrichment Program Director. Finally, if the problem is still not resolved, you may make an appointment to speak to the Head of School.

Parent/Teacher Communication:

Parent/teacher communication is frequent and informal. Parents are invited to discuss ideas and concerns with the teachers as needed. Teachers respect the confidential nature of each child’s needs. Please schedule a meeting time when other parents or students are not present so your child’s teacher may give you their full attention.

A teacher may be reached by calling the school and leaving a message. Teachers may also be reached via e-mail at firstname_lastname@wmsde.org. Teachers convey pertinent information to the classroom families through e-mail and by posting notices on the bulletin boards located outside their classrooms.

School Website:

The school’s website (www.wmsde.org) is an important source of school information and is updated regularly.